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definitions

become

[ bih-kuhm ]
/ bɪˈkʌm /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR become ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), be·came, be·come, be·com·ing.

to come, change, or grow to be (as specified): He became tired.
to come into being.

verb (used with object), be·came, be·come, be·com·ing.

to be attractive on; befit in appearance; look well on: That gown becomes you.
to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of: conduct that becomes an officer.

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RELATED WORDS

emerge, derive, end, appear, rise, culminate, emanate, stem, produce, arise, follow, grow, ensue, occur, proceed, hit, materialize, develop, transpire, fall

Nearby words

  1. beckwith-wiedemann syndrome,
  2. becky,
  3. beclasp,
  4. beclomethasone,
  5. becloud,
  6. become of,
  7. becoming,
  8. becquerel,
  9. becquerel ,
  10. becquerel effect

Idioms

    become of, to happen to; be the fate of: What will become of him?

Origin of become

before 900; Middle English becumen, Old English becuman to come about, happen; cognate with Dutch bekomen, German bekommen, Gothic biqiman. See be-, come
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for become of

become

/ (bɪˈkʌm) /

verb -comes, -coming, -came or -come (mainly intr)

(copula) to come to be; develop or grow intohe became a monster
(foll by of; usually used in a question) to fall to or be the lot (of); happen (to)what became of him?
(tr) (of clothes, etc) to enhance the appearance of (someone); suitthat dress becomes you
(tr) to be appropriate; befitit ill becomes you to complain

Word Origin for become

Old English becuman to happen; related to Old High German biqueman to come to, Gothic biquiman to appear suddenly
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for become of

become

v.

Old English becuman "happen, come about," also "meet with, arrive," from Proto-Germanic *bikweman "become" (cf. Dutch bekomen, Old High German biqueman "obtain," German bekommen, Gothic biquiman). A compound of be- and come; it drove out Old English weorðan. Meaning "to look well" is early 14c., from earlier sense of "to agree with, be fitting" (early 13c.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with become of

become of

Happen to, befall, be the fate of, as in I haven't seen Joe in a year; what has become of his book? The King James Bible has this idiom (Genesis 37:20): “We shall see what will become of his dreams.” [Late 1500s]

become

In addition to the idiom beginning with become

  • become of

, also see idioms beginning with

  • get
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.